Filter turning mechanism

ABSTRACT

A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well, which in turn rotates the filter.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure generally relates to filters for engines, and morespecifically relates to a mechanism for turning filters.

2. Background Art

Filters are needed to remove impurities from liquids in an internalcombustion engine. Oil filters, hydraulic fluid filters, transmissionfluid filters, and fuel filters are examples of known filters oninternal combustion engines. Metal can-type filters are inexpensive anddisposable, and are installed by turning the filter on a threaded postuntil a gasket on the filter is tightened against a receiving filterflange. When the filter needs to be replaced, the filter is turned inthe opposite direction until the filter is free from the threaded post.A new filter may then be placed on the threaded post and installed byturning the filter.

Sometimes installing and removing filters can be difficult. For example,the placement of the filter in the engine compartment may make itdifficult to get a tool or wrench on the filter to break it loose. Oncebroken loose, a filter may generally be turned by hand, but it typicallytakes a tool to apply sufficient force to get the filter to break loose(i.e., start turning). To address this problem, many different toolshave been developed to assist in removing filters. However, each ofthese tools requires space in the engine compartment to place the toolon the filter, and some require significant space that may not beavailable, rendering such tools useless. In addition, some filters, suchas those installed on heavy equipment such as bulldozers and backhoes,must be tightened with a tool to assure that vibration does not loosenthe filters. In the prior art, a mechanic must inspect a filter on anengine, determine which tool is best suited to removing the filter,locate the tool, then use the tool to remove the old filter. The toolmay also be used to install the new filter.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to afilter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove afilter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts afilter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism isrotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanismincludes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The innerdrive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, butwhen pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such asa ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drivemechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotatethe filter drive mechanism as well. The filter drive mechanism is incontact with an outer case of the filter, causing the filter to rotatewith the rotation of the filter drive mechanism. The filter turningmechanism may thus be used to turn a filter onto a threaded filter mountuntil tight, and may also be used to turn a filter off the threadedfilter mount.

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following more particular description, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be described in conjunction with the appendeddrawings, where like designations denote like elements, and:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an inner drive gear;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the inner drive gear shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a filter drive mechanism for a firstimplementation of the filter turning mechanism that allows using a toolfrom the bottom of the filter turning mechanism;

FIG. 4 is side view of the filter drive mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing some of thecomponents in the filter turning mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the filter turning mechanismpartially assembled and partially exploded;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled first implementationof the filter turning mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the bottom cap shown in FIGS. 5-7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled first implementationof the filter turning mechanism illustrating how a ratchet extension canpush the inner drive gear to engage the filter drive mechanism so thatrotation of the ratchet extension causes rotation of the filter drivemechanism to turn a filter;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a second implementation for thefilter turning mechanism that allows using a tool from the top of thefilter turning mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled second implementationof the filter turning mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled second implementationof the filter turning mechanism illustrating how a ratchet extension canpush the inner drive gear to engage the filter drive mechanism so thatrotation of the ratchet extension causes rotation of the filter drivemechanism to turn a filter;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a third implementation for thefilter turning mechanism that allows using a tool from the top of thefilter turning mechanism;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled third implementationof the filter turning mechanism;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled third implementationof the filter turning mechanism illustrating how a ratchet extension canpush the inner drive gear to engage the filter drive mechanism so thatrotation of the ratchet extension causes rotation of the filter drivemechanism to turn a filter;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth implementation for thefilter turning mechanism that allows using a tool from the top of thefilter turning mechanism and includes features that could beincorporated into any of the implementations for the filter turningmechanism;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth implementation for thefilter turning mechanism that allows using a tool from either the top orthe bottom of the filter turning mechanism and that does not include aninner drive gear;

FIG. 18 is a top view of a bottom cap for the filter turning mechanismshown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a top view of an adapter plate for existing engines;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the adapter plate in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a bottom view of the adapter plate in FIGS. 19 and 20;

FIG. 22 is a top view of an adapter flange;

FIG. 23 is a side view of the adapter flange shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a bottom view of a hydraulic filter flange;

FIG. 25 is a side view of the hydraulic filter flange shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a top view of an alternative implementation for the innerdrive gear shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 27 is a top view of an alternative implementation for the filterdrive mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 28 is a bottom view of a filter;

FIG. 29 is a side view of the filter shown in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a top view showing a filter turning mechanism with gear teethturning a filter;\

FIG. 31 is a top view showing a filter turning mechanism with a texturedroller turning a filter;

FIG. 32 is a top view showing a filter turning mechanism with a rollerthat has teeth on only half of its roller surface turning a filter;

FIG. 33 is a flow diagram of a method for retrofitting an existingengine to use the filter turning mechanism;

FIG. 34 is a flow diagram of a method for installing a filter using thefilter turning mechanism; and

FIG. 35 is a flow diagram of a method for removing a filter using thefilter turning mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to afilter, and may be used to install a filter by turning the filter on,and may be used to remove a filter by turning the filter off. Oneimplementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drivegear disposed within a filter drive mechanism. A spring normally keepsthe inner drive gear in a spin chamber of the filter drive mechanism,allowing the inner drive gear to spin freely without engaging the filterdrive mechanism. A tool such as a socket extension may be used to pushthe inner drive gear to overcome the bias of the spring so the innerdrive gear engages the filter drive mechanism. At this point, rotatingthe inner drive gear causes corresponding rotation of the filter drivemechanism, which contacts and rotates the filter.

Referring to FIG. 1, one specific configuration of an inner drive gear100 is shown, and includes multiple gear teeth 110 and a substantiallysquare hole 120 that extends through the inner drive gear 100 Innerdrive gear has an inner diameter A shown in FIG. 1 exclusive of the gearteeth 110, and a larger diameter B shown in FIG. 1 inclusive of the gearteeth 110. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the inner drive gear 100 in FIG.1.

One specific implementation of the filter drive mechanism is shown inFIG. 3. A filter drive mechanism 300 includes external gear teeth 310,multiple holes 340, a shaped portion 350 for receiving the inner drivegear 100 shown in FIG. 1, and a cylindrical portion 330 that makes upthe walls of the spin chamber 430 shown in FIG. 4. The interior of thefilter drive mechanism 300 includes an engage chamber 420 that includesthe shaped portion 350 for receiving the inner drive gear 100 shown inFIG. 1. The spin chamber 430 includes the cylindrical portion 330 thatdefines spin chamber 430. The spin chamber 430 has a diameter D that isgreater than the diameter B shown in FIG. 1, thereby allowing the innerdrive gear to spin freely in the spin chamber 430. The shaped portion350 in the engage chamber 420 has an inner dimension E shown in FIGS. 3and 4 that is greater than diameter A and less than diameter B shown inFIG. 1, and has an outer dimension F that is greater than diameter Bshown in FIG. 1. This allows the inner drive gear 100 shown in FIG. 1 toslide through the engage chamber 420 into the spin chamber 430. Theinner drive gear 100 may then by pushed and turned by a suitable tool sothe inner drive gear enters the engage chamber 420, which causes turningof the inner drive gear to also turn the filter drive mechanism. Theoperation of the filter turning mechanism is discussed in more detailbelow.

FIG. 5 illustrates components for a first implementation of the filterturning mechanism that are installed into a filter flange 520 thatincludes a hole 530 in proximity to a filter. Flange 520 may include anexisting filter flange in an engine, or may include an assemblydiscussed below with reference to FIGS. 19-23. The filter drivemechanism 300 includes a drive head 360 that contacts the filter and aninner drive gear body 370. A bushing 510 and bottom cap 540 are alsoshown. The bushing 510 is preferably a cylindrical brass bushing, butmay be made of any suitable material. The bushing 510 is pressed intothe hole 530 in flange 520, as shown in FIG. 6. The bushing 510preferably has an interference fit with hole 530 so that once pressedinto the hole 530 the bushing 510 will not move. Once the bushing 510 isinstalled, the inner drive gear body 370 of the filter drive mechanism300 is placed inside the bushing, as shown in FIG. 6. The bushing 510has a height that is slightly greater than the height of flange 520. Inaddition, the height of the inner drive gear body 370 is slightlygreater than the height of the bushing. This makes it so the filterdrive mechanism 300 may rotate freely after being installed within theflange 520. Once the filter drive mechanism 300 is placed within thebushing 510 as shown in FIG. 6, the bottom cap 540 is screwed to thebottom of the filter drive mechanism 300 as shown using multiple screws630. Note the bottom cap 540 is slightly wider than the inner diameterof the bushing, thereby captivating the filter drive mechanism 300within the bushing 510, which is captivated within the flange 520.Because the length of the inner drive gear body 350 of the filter drivemechanism 300 is slightly longer than the length of the bushing 510,once the bottom cap is screwed onto the filter driver gear 300, thefilter drive mechanism will rotate freely within flange 520.

FIG. 6 also shows other pieces in the assembly, including the innerdrive gear 100, a spring 620, and a top cap 610. The inner drive gear100 is shaped and dimensioned to slide through engage chamber 420 in thedrive head 360 of the filter drive mechanism 300 and drop into the spinchamber 430 in the inner drive gear body 370 of the filter drivemechanism 300, as shown in FIG. 7. The spring 620 is then placed on topof the inner drive gear 100, and the top cap 610 is secured using screws630. The assembled filter turning mechanism 700 is now ready for use.

FIG. 8 shows one suitable configuration for the bottom cap 540 thatincludes a large center hole 810 and multiple smaller holes 820 forattaching the bottom cap 540 to the bottom of the filter drive mechanism300 with screws. The large hole 810 is dimensioned to allow a suitabletool to pass through the bottom cap 540 to contact the inner drive gear100. In the examples provided herein, the tool shown in the figures is aratchet extension, so the hole 810 is dimensioned to allow a suitableratchet extension to pass through. The top cap 610 may be identical tothe bottom cap 540, or could have a different configuration. Forexample, because the ratchet extension extends through the bottom cap540 for the filter turning assembly 700 shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the topcap 610 could be a solid plate with only screw holes 820 (i.e., withouta large hole 810). This would allow the top cap 610 to keep dirt andgrime from gumming up the works inside the filter turning mechanism 700.

The operation of the filter turning mechanism 700 is shown in FIG. 9.When a mechanic wants to turn the filter 2600 shown in partial view inFIG. 9, the mechanic can place a ratchet extension 910 through the hole810 in the bottom cap 540 to contact the inner drive gear 100. In thisspecific configuration, the substantially square hole 120 in the drivegear 100 shown in FIG. 1 receives the top of the ratchet extension inthe same way a socket receives the ratchet extension. The mechanic thenpushes on the ratchet extension 910 while turning. Once the gear teethof the inner drive gear 100 align with the corresponding recesses in thedrive head 360 in the engage chamber 420, the inner drive gear 100 willslide within the drive head 360, causing the inner drive gear to engagethe filter drive mechanism 300. At this point, rotation of the innerdrive gear 100 causes rotation of the filter drive mechanism 300. Notethe ratchet extension may be turned in either direction to either turn afilter on or to turn a filter off. Once the mechanic removes the ratchetextension 910, the bias force of the spring 620 pushes the inner drivegear 100 back into the spin chamber 430.

The first configuration for the filter turning mechanism shown in FIGS.3-8 works well when the mechanic needs to turn the filter turningmechanism from the side of the flange 520 opposite the filter, as shownin FIG. 9. If the mechanic needs to turn the filter turning mechanismfrom the opposite side, a different structure is needed. FIGS. 10-12illustrate a second implementation for the filter turning mechanism thatallows the filter turning mechanism to be turned from the same side asthe filter. This configuration would be needed, for example, in anexisting car engine where an oil filter screws to a corresponding filterlocation on the engine block, which makes it impossible to access thefilter turning mechanism from the side opposite the filter. Referring toFIG. 10, a filter drive mechanism 1010 is identical in outsideconfiguration as the filter drive mechanism 300 shown in FIG. 4, but theinside configuration is turned upside down so the spin chamber 1030 isat the top and the engage chamber 1020 is at the bottom. With thisconfiguration, the filter drive mechanism 1010 is installed into thebushing 510 and secured with bottom cap 540 and screws 630 the same asshown in FIG. 6. However, instead of installing the inner drive gear 100followed by the spring 620, the spring is installed first, with theinner drive gear 100 resting on the spring 620, as shown in FIG. 11. Thetop cap 610 is installed with screws 630. In the configuration shown inFIG. 11, the top cap 610 will have the configuration shown in FIG. 8with a hole 810 that retains the inner drive gear but allows a ratchetextension to pass through. Referring to FIG. 12, the assembled filterturning mechanism 1000 is used by placing a tool such as a ratchetextension 910 through the hole 810 in the top plate 610 to engage theinner drive gear 100 the same way the ratchet extension engages asocket. The ratchet extension 910 is then pushed down while rotatinguntil the inner drive gear 100 aligns with the corresponding recesses inthe engage chamber, which overcomes the bias force of the spring 620 andcauses the inner drive gear 100 to slide within the engage chamber,thereby engaging the filter drive mechanism 1010, as shown in FIG. 12.The ratchet extension 910 may then be rotated in either direction toturn the filter that is contacting the filter drive mechanism 1010 asneeded.

A third configuration for the filter turning mechanism is shown in FIGS.13-15, and allows turning the filter mechanism from the same side as thefilter. In this configuration, the filter drive mechanism 1310 includesan inner drive gear body 1350, a drive head 1340, and a flange body1360. The inner drive gear body 1350 includes a spin chamber 1330, andthe drive head 1340 includes an engage chamber 1320. The flange body1360 is to mount the filter drive mechanism 1310 into a flange, as shownin FIGS. 14-15. In this configuration, the filter drive mechanism 1310is placed within the bushing 510, and the bottom cap 540 is installedusing screws 630. A spring 1410 is then placed through the top, followedby the inner drive gear 100. The top cap 610 is then attached usingscrews 630, resulting in an assembled filter turning mechanism 1400. Thetop cap 610 preferably has the configuration shown in FIG. 8 with a hole810 through which a tool such as a ratchet extension may pass. Referringto FIG. 15, the assembled filter turning mechanism 1400 is used in thesame way as the filter turning mechanism 1000 shown in FIG. 12. Theratchet extension 910 engages the inner drive gear 100, and is turnedwhile pressing down until the inner drive gear slides within the engagechamber, thereby engaging the filter drive mechanism and causing thefilter drive mechanism to turn as the ratchet extension is turned.

Variations are possible within the scope of the disclosure and claimsherein. Two such variations are shown in FIG. 16. In the configurationshown in FIG. 16, there is a gap 1610 between the top surface of flange520 and the drive head 1310. This gap allows accommodating filters thathave rolled beads at the bottom that might otherwise interfere with thedrive head 1310. Another variation is to include snap tabs 1620 on thebottom of the filter drive mechanism 1310 as shown. Using snap tabs 1620allows the filter drive mechanism 1310 to be pushed into place withinbushing 510, and once in place, the snap tabs 1620 snap out to engagethe bushing 520, thereby securing the filter drive mechanism 1310 inplace. Because no bottom cap is used, a bottom shelf or tab is needed tohold the spring 1410 in place, as shown in FIG. 16. Snap tabs 1620 areespecially advantageous when the filter drive mechanism 1310 isinstalled in a flange 520 that has limited access to its back side,because the filter drive mechanism 1310 may be secured in place withoutusing screws on the back side. Of course, many other variations arepossible. For example, the head portion 1310 in FIG. 16 could include apartition between the drive head 1340 and flange body 1360 shown in FIG.13, which would mean a much shorter spring could be used.

Note that any suitable drive tool could be used to engage the innerdrive gear, which means any suitable opening in the inner drive gear maybe used to accommodate a particular tool. For example, instead of asquare opening 120 that extends from top to bottom of the inner drivegear 100 as shown in FIG. 1, a cross-shaped indention could be usedinstead that would accommodate a Phillips screwdriver head. Similarly, ahexagonal recess could be provided that would accommodate a hex key. Thedisclosure and claims herein expressly extend to any suitable tool forturning the filter turning mechanism, and any suitable recess or openingin the inner drive gear for receiving a tool to rotate the inner drivegear.

While the inner drive gear 100 is shown in FIG. 1 to include a pluralityof gear teeth 110, and the interior of the filter drive mechanism 300 inFIG. 3 is shown to include a recess 350 that accommodates the pluralityof gear teeth 110, a large number of geometrical configurations could beused. For example, the inner drive gear could have a hexagonal exterior,and the filter drive mechanism could have a hexagonal engage chamber.The disclosure and claims herein expressly extend to any suitableexterior configuration for the inner drive gear, and any suitableinterior configuration for the engage chamber of the filter drivemechanism. As long as the inner drive gear can spin within engaging thefilter drive mechanism in the spin chamber, and engages the filter drivemechanism in the engage chamber, any suitable geometrical configurationmay be used, even if these do not match. For example, the exterior ofthe inner drive gear could be triangular while the interior of theengage chamber is hexagonal.

A fourth implementation for the filter turning mechanism is shown inFIGS. 17-18. In this configuration, there is no inner drive gear.Instead, a substantially square hole 1730 runs from top to bottom of thefilter drive mechanism 1710. The filter drive mechanism 1710 isinstalled in a flange the same was as shown in the previous threeimplementations, using a bottom plate and screws. While the bottom plate810 shown in FIG. 8 could be used, another configuration of a suitablebottom plate 1810 is shown in FIG. 18 to include a substantially squarehole 1820 that aligns with the substantially square hole 1730 in thefilter drive mechanism 1710. One advantage of the configuration shown inFIGS. 17 and 18 is the filter drive mechanism 1710 may be turned fromboth the top and the bottom. The disclosure and claims herein expresslyextend to any suitable filter drive mechanism that is rotatably coupledto a filter flange in proximity to a filter location on the filterflange such that when a filter is in the filter location, a head portionof the filter drive mechanism contacts an external portion of the filterto rotate the filter when the filter drive mechanism is rotated with atool. Other possible configurations not expressly shown that are withinthe scope of the disclosure and claims herein extend to configurationswith multiple gears that mesh to cause rotation of a tool to causerotation of a filter drive mechanism.

Most existing engines do not have a flange with a suitable hole in whicha filter turning mechanism can be installed. As a result, a suitableretrofit has been developed. Referring to FIGS. 19-21, an adapter plate1910 includes multiple openings 1920 and a threaded center mounting post1930 that is configured to receive a filter. The adapter plate 1910includes multiple holes 1940 and a threaded hole 1950 configured tothread on a threaded post in a filter location on an engine block. Theadapter plate 1910 is turned onto the threaded post on the engine blockwhere a filter is normally mounted. The filter plate includes a circulargroove 2120 for receiving a suitable gasket, such as an 0-ring gasket.The adapter plate 1910 with gasket are screwed into place on the engineblock where the filter normally goes. The adapter plate 1910 is thentightened to assure the gasket creates a good seal with no leaks. Thethreaded post 1930 preferably has the same configuration as the threadedpost on the engine block, allowing an oil filter to be screwed to theadapter plate 1910 and tightened down. Once the adapter plate 1910 is inplace, an adapter flange 2210 shown in FIGS. 22-23 may be connected tothe adapter plate 1910. In the specific configuration shown in FIGS.19-23, the adapter flange 2210 includes holes 2220 that may be alignedwith three of the holes 1940 on the adapter plate. Because the holes1940 on the adapter plate are along the entire circumference of theadapter plate 1910, and only three of these holes will be used to attachthe adapter flange 2210, this provides great flexibility in determininga suitable location for the adapter flange 2220 around the circumferenceof the adapter plate 1910. Set screws could be used to attach theadapter flange 2210 to the adapter plate 1910 through holes 2220 andthree of the holes 1940. The adapter flange 2210 includes a hole 2230configured to receive a filter turning assembly such that the drive headof the filter turning assembly will contact the side of the filter whena filter is installed on the adapter plate 1910, thereby turning thefilter when the filter turning assembly is turned with a tool.

In the most preferred implementation, a filter turning mechanism isinstalled in the hole 2230 in the adapter flange 2210 before the adapterflange 2210 is attached to the adapter plate 1910. An assembled flangeadapter assembly thus includes an adapter flange 2210 with the installedfilter turning mechanism attached to a filter adapter 2210. Thedisclosure and claims herein extend to a kit that may be used toretrofit an existing engine, where the kit includes an adapter plate, anadapter flange, and a filter turning mechanism. The kit may optionallyinclude a filter for the vehicle that may include indentions or atextured surface to help the filter turning mechanism turn the filter.

Some filters are not mounted to an engine block, but are instead mountedto a separate filter flange. An example configuration for a hydraulicfilter flange 2410 is shown in FIGS. 24-25. The hydraulic filter flange2410 includes a filter mounting post 2470, and a port housing 2450 onthe opposite side that includes an inlet port 2450 and an outlet port2460. The bottom side of the filter flange 2410 includes a filterlocation 2510 that includes the mounting post 2470 that defines wherethe filter will be when installed. The filter flange 2410 shown in FIGS.24-25 includes a hole 2430 for receiving a filter turning mechanism asdisclosed herein. Once installed, the drive head of the filter turningmechanism will contact the side of a filter when the filter isinstalled, allowing the filter turning mechanism to turn the filter. Thedisclosure and claims herein extend to any configuration for anysuitable flange that receives a filter that is turned to install thefilter or turned to remove the filter. Note the term “filter flange”herein does not necessarily imply a separate component, as the filterflange may be built into the engine block itself

A variation for the inner drive gear is shown in FIG. 26. The innerdrive gear 2600 is similar in shape to the inner drive gear shown inFIG. 1. Note, however, the inner drive gear 2600 includes one or moreslits 2640 in each tooth 2610 of the inner drive gear. These slits allowthe teeth of the drive gear to compress. With this configuration, theengage chamber of the filter drive mechanism may be configured to allowthe inner drive gear 2600 to deform and spin within the filter drivemechanism when the torque on the inner drive gear exceeds somepredetermined threshold. The slits 2630 thus form a torque reliefmechanism that causes the inner drive gear to slip within the filterdrive mechanism when torque on the inner drive gear exceeds thepredetermined threshold. The torque relief mechanism in inner drive gear2600 may thus be used to assure a filter is not torqued excessively wheninstalling the filter. The torque relief mechanism in inner drive gear2600 may also be used to assure that excessive torque on the inner drivedoes not gear break the teeth 2610 off the inner drive gear 2600. Notethat other suitable torque relief mechanisms could also be used. Forexample, known torque ratchets include a click device that clicks once adesired torque is achieved. The disclosure herein expressly includes anysuitable torque relief mechanism.

A variation for the drive head of the filter drive mechanism is shown inFIG. 27. In FIG. 27, the drive head 2710 of a filter drive mechanismincludes a plurality of teeth 2720 only on half of the drive head. Withthis configuration, a filter may be turned by hand when the smooth partof the drive head contacts the filter, and may be turned by the filterdrive mechanism 2710 a half turn or less when the teeth 2720 engage thefilter. The configuration in FIG. 27 is especially useful for initiallybreaking loose a filter using the filter drive mechanism, thencontinuing turning the filter by hand to remove the filter.

One suitable configuration for a filter is shown in FIGS. 28-29. Filter2800 includes a body 2910 with indentions 2810 around its circumferencenear the filter gasket 2820. The filter includes in inlet port 2830 andmultiple outlet ports 2840. The filter 2800 may be used in conjunctionwith the filter drive mechanism shown in FIG. 3 that includes teeth thatengage the indentions 2810 in the filter to rotate the filter 2800.

Three specific configurations of for the filter turning mechanism andcorresponding filters are shown in FIGS. 30-32. A first configuration3000 in FIG. 30 includes gear teeth similar to those shown in FIG. 3that engage corresponding indentions such as 2810 shown in FIGS. 28 and29. A second configuration 3100 in FIG. 31 includes a textured roller onthe drive head of the filter turning assembly, with a correspondingtextured surface on the filter 3110. For example, the drive head of thefilter turning assembly 3100 may include a knurled surface, and thefilter 3110 could include a strip of textured material such as sandpaperor rubber that allows the knurled surface of the drive head to rotatethe filter 3110. A third configuration 3200 shown in FIG. 32 includes adrive head similar to the drive head 2710 shown in FIG. 27 that includesteeth on half of its circumference. The filter 3210 could include acorresponding surface that mates with the teeth on the drive head, couldinclude a textured surface that allows the teeth on the drive head tobetter grip the filter, or the drive head could simply engage the metalsurface of the filter. As explained above with reference to FIG. 27,having teeth on only half of the drive head allows the filter to beturned by hand when the smooth half of the drive head contacts thefilter, and allows the filter to be turned for up to a half turn usingthe filter turning mechanism 3200, such as when loosening the filter.

Referring to FIG. 33, a method 3300 allows retrofitting an existingengine to use the filter turning mechanisms disclosed herein. An adapterplate is installed on the existing filter mount of the engine (step3310). Adapter plate 1910 in FIGS. 19-21 is a suitable example of anadapter plate that could be used, but other configurations of adapterplates are also within the scope of the disclosure and claims herein. Anadapter flange is then attached to the adapter plate (step 3320). Method3300 is then done. In the most preferred implementation, the adapterflange installed in step 3320 will already have the filter turningmechanism installed in the hole of adapter flange. The result ofperforming method 3300 is an adapter flange assembly. Method 3300illustrates the simple steps in retrofitting an existing engine to usethe filter turning mechanisms disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 34, a method 3400 shows how to use the filter turningmechanism to install a filter. The filter is turned onto the threadedcenter post of the adapter plate until the filter gasket contacts theadapter plate (step 3410). This may be done by hand, and the process ofturning the filter by hand may cause the filter turning mechanism tospin once the filter contacts the filter turning mechanism. A socketextension is then inserted into the inner drive gear in the filterturning mechanism (step 3420). The socket extension is then pressedwhile turning until the inner drive gear slides into and engages thefilter drive mechanism (step 3430). At this point turning the innerdrive gear results in turning the filter drive mechanism, which turnsthe filter. The inner drive gear is thus turned by the socket extensionto tighten the filter (step 3440). Method 3400 is then done.

A method 3500 shown in FIG. 35 shows how to use the filter turningmechanism to remove a filter. A socket extension is inserted into theinner drive gear (step 3510). The socket extension is pressed whileturning until the inner drive gear aligns with recesses in the filterdrive mechanism and the force of pressing the socket extension overcomesthe bias of the spring so the inner drive gear slides into and engagesthe filter drive mechanism (step 3520). At this point turning the innerdrive gear results in turning the filter drive mechanism, which turnsthe filter. The inner drive gear is thus turned by the socket extensionto loosen the filter (step 3530). Method 3500 is then done.

The filter turning mechanism and its components may be made of anysuitable material. Preferred materials include metal and plastic.High-strength plastic that can withstand the operating temperatures ofan internal combustion engine are preferred due to their relatively lowcost and the ease of molding complicated parts such as the filter drivemechanism. Of course, any other suitable material, such as carboncomposites and other materials, could also be used.

The examples herein illustrate filters that screw onto a threaded post.Note, however, the filter turning mechanisms disclosed herein may beused with any filter that includes threads such that the filter is puton and taken off by turning the filter. For example, a filter flangecould include internal threads, and the exterior of the filter housingcould include external threads that engage the internal threads of thefilter flange. The disclosure and claims herein expressly extend toturning any filter that is installed and removed by turning.

One of the advantages of the filter turning mechanism disclosed andclaimed herein is the reduced exposure to chemicals while changing afilter. With known tools and methods for changing a filter, it is commonfor a mechanic to get oil, hydraulic fluid, or other chemicals on his orher hands. With the filter turning mechanisms disclosed herein, amechanic can put a long ratchet extension into the filter turningmechanism, and turn the filter until it falls into a catch pan, therebyreducing the likelihood of the mechanic getting chemicals and fluids onthe hands while changing a filter.

The disclosure herein relates to a filter turning mechanism that isattached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter),and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. Thefilter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter whenthe filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementationof the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and afilter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freelywithin the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drivemechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the innerdrive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotationof the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well,which in turn rotates the filter.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations are possiblewithin the scope of the claims. Thus, while the disclosure isparticularly shown and described above, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that these and other changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a filter drivemechanism rotatably coupled to a filter flange that is in a fixedposition with respect to a filter location, wherein the filter drivemechanism is in a fixed position adjacent the filter location, such thatwhen a filter is in the filter location a head portion of the filterdrive mechanism contacts an external portion of the filter to rotate thefilter when the head portion of the filter drive mechanism is rotatedwith a tool.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head portioncomprises a plurality of teeth that contact the filter.
 3. The apparatusof claim 2 wherein the filter comprises a plurality of indentions thatreceive the plurality of teeth as the filter drive mechanism is rotated.4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head portion comprises atextured roller and the filter comprises a textured surface thatcontacts the textured roller.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising an inner drive gear disposed within the filter drivemechanism, the filter drive mechanism defining a spin chamber where theinner drive gear may spin without engaging an outer portion of thefilter drive mechanism that includes the head portion, the filter drivemechanism further defining an engage chamber where the inner drive gearengages the outer portion of the filter drive mechanism, wherein theapparatus further comprises a spring within the filter drive mechanismthat provides a bias force that pushes the inner drive gear in the spinchamber.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the inner drive gearcomprises a torque relief mechanism that causes the inner drive gear toslip within the filter drive mechanism when torque on the inner drivegear exceeds a predetermined threshold.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5wherein the bias force of the spring is overcome by a tool passingthrough an opening in the filter drive mechanism to engage the innerdrive gear and pushing the inner drive gear against the bias force ofthe spring until the inner drive gear at least partially enters theengage chamber to engage the outer portion of the filter drive mechanismsuch that turning the inner drive gear with the tool results in turningthe head portion of the filter drive mechanism.
 8. An apparatuscomprising: a filter drive mechanism rotatably coupled to a filterflange that is in a fixed position with respect to a filter location,wherein the filter drive mechanism is in a fixed position adjacent thefilter location, such that when a filter is in the filter location ahead portion of the filter drive mechanism contacts an external portionof the filter to rotate the filter when the filter drive mechanism isrotated with a tool, wherein the head portion comprises a plurality ofteeth that contact the filter, wherein the filter comprises a pluralityof indentions that receive the plurality of teeth as the filter drivemechanism is rotated, wherein the filter drive mechanism comprises aninner drive gear disposed within the filter drive mechanism, the filterdrive mechanism defining a spin chamber where the inner drive gear mayspin without engaging the filter drive mechanism, the filter drivemechanism further defining an engage chamber where the inner drive gearengages the filter drive mechanism, wherein the apparatus furthercomprises a spring within the filter drive mechanism that provides abias force that pushes the inner drive gear in the spin chamber.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8 wherein the inner drive gear comprises a torquerelief mechanism that causes the inner drive gear to slip within thefilter drive mechanism when torque on the inner drive gear exceeds apredetermined threshold.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the biasforce of the spring is overcome by a tool engaging the inner drive gearand pushing the inner drive gear against the bias force of the springuntil the drive gear at least partially enters the engage chamber toengage the filter drive mechanism such that turning the inner drive gearwith the tool results in turning the filter drive mechanism.
 11. Anapparatus comprising: a filter drive mechanism rotatably coupled to afilter flange that is in a fixed position with respect to a filterlocation, wherein the filter drive mechanism is in a fixed positionadjacent the filter location, such that when a filter is in the filterlocation a head portion of the filter drive mechanism contacts anexternal portion of the filter to rotate the filter when the filterdrive mechanism is rotated with a tool, wherein the head portioncomprises a textured roller and the filter comprises a textured surfacethat contacts the textured roller, wherein the filter drive mechanismcomprises an inner drive gear disposed within the filter drivemechanism, the filter drive mechanism defining a spin chamber where theinner drive gear may spin without engaging the filter drive mechanism,the filter drive mechanism further defining an engage chamber where theinner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, wherein theapparatus further comprises a spring within the filter drive mechanismthat provides a bias force that pushes the inner drive gear in the spinchamber.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the inner drive gearcomprises a torque relief mechanism that causes the inner drive gear toslip within the filter drive mechanism when torque on the inner drivegear exceeds a predetermined threshold.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11wherein the bias force of the spring is overcome by a tool engaging theinner drive gear and pushing the inner drive gear against the bias forceof the spring until the drive gear at least partially enters the engagechamber to engage the filter drive mechanism such that turning the innerdrive gear with the tool results in turning the filter drive mechanism.